Stewart Hosie’s bid to become SNP deputy leader has been boosted by the party’s Westminster contingent.
Five of the six nationalist politicians based at the House of Commons have backed the Dundee East MP’s campaign.
The only person missing from a press release announcing the support was Perth and North Perthshire representative Pete Wishart.
Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson said: “I will be voting for Stewart Hosie because of his strong record and experience. He defeated Labour to get to Westminster, delivered a ‘Yes’ referendum majority in Dundee and has held high office in the SNP as National Secretary’.
“The next test for the SNP is the Westminster elections and Stewart Hosie is best qualified amongst a strong field to maintain the momentum from the referendum campaign and deliver a Westminster breakthrough.”
Angus MP Mike Weir added: “Stewart is a proven winner against Labour at Westminster and that experience will be crucial as we approach the UK General Election. SNP members are very interested in the SNP-Yes Alliance approach that Stewart has been promoting.”
Western Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil said Mr Hosie was the “best placed candidate” to achieve a breakthrough at next year’s general election.
Banff and Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford praised all three politicians competing for the role as extremely able and well qualified but added the Dundee representative was “the best person for the job”.
Mr Hosie, Transport Minister Keith Brown and Youth Employment Secretary Angela Constance are all in the running to replace Nicola Sturgeon when she steps up to lead the party next month.
Mr Brown appears to have the backing of the majority of MSPs.
All party members will have a vote in the contest, with the result announced in a few weeks time at the SNP conference in Perth.